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Trains:
They have diesel engines, but they only power generators that create electricity to drive electric motors that actually power the drive wheels. So, why doesn't someone do a hybrid diesel / electric where a 50ish hp diesel powers a generator which powers electric motors at the wheels? Stupid amounts of torque, more power than you'd ever need. Pair that with a crap-ton of batteries and the engine could shut itself down from time to time.
P.S. BMW owns the pattents to solenoid driven valves, iirc.
P.S. I've come up with a new "valve train" design. Cheaper / Easier to produce, WAY less resistance than a standard valve train. As a matter of fact, my design has no valves.. or springs.. or retainers.. or any of that. Its a holy shit idea, and I'm making sure it'll really work.
Psst, they already have that, its called a 2-stroke motor.
I've thought of doing something like a "ball-valve"-style head; the cam itself acts as the valve. The timing would simply be how big the holes/ports are cut into it. I didn't really think much of it though because of sealing and friction issues.
Define efficient.
As far as horsepower per liter, they are efficient compared to piston engines. However, as far as fuel efficiency they are horrible.
actually its called a rotary engine
again... rotary engine
but look at jet engines... they are a derriviative of the wankel more or less